Media storage container with media cartridge page

ABSTRACT

A media storage container includes a base that supports a media disc retaining hub configured to hold a media disc such as a CD or DVD. A lid is connected to the base and movable between open and closed positions. The container is configured to hold a second item of recorded media that interacts with the retaining hub when the lid is closed. In one configuration, an add-on page carries the second item of recorded media. The page defines an opening and a portion of the disc retaining hub extends into the opening when the page is disposed over the base.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/725,005 filed Oct. 8, 2005; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to media storage containers and, more particularly, to a media storage container adapted to hold a media cartridge in combination with a media disc such as a CD or a DVD. Specifically, the invention relates to a media storage container that holds a media cartridge in a position wherein the hub that holds the media disc engages at least a portion of the media cartridge when the container is closed.

2. Background Information

Media cartridges such as different video game cartridges and Universal Media Discs (RTM) are growing in popularity in the recorded media art. In certain situations, there is a desire to package such new recorded media in combination with a traditional item of recorded media such as a CD or a DVD. The art thus desires a media storage container adapted to retain both types of recorded media.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally provides a media storage container adapted to hold a disc-shaped item of recorded media in combination with a media cartridge.

The invention generally provides a configuration of a media storage container wherein the disc retaining hub of the media storage container at least partially passes through an opening in another portion of the media storage container when the media stage container is closed.

In one configuration, the invention provides a media storage container for holding a media cartridge and a media disc. The media disc is held on a hub. The cartridge is held in a position that allows the media disc hub to engage the cartridge when the container is closed. In one configuration, the cartridge is carried by an internal page of the media container. In another configuration, the cartridge is carried by the lid of the container.

In another configuration, the invention provides an add-on page that is selectively connected to a media storage container. The add-on page is adapted to hold a media cartridge such as that sold under the trademark Universal Media Disc (RTM) or UMD. The page is configured to hold the media cartridge in a configuration that allows the page and cartridge to fit within a media storage container configured to hold a media disc such as a CD or DVD.

In an exemplary configuration, the invention provides a media storage container having a base that supports a push button-style disc hub. A hinge wall is hingedly connected to the base with a lid hingedly connected to the hinge wall. A media holding page is snap fit into holders extending from the hinge wall. The page has a structure adapted to retain a media cartridge. The page defines an opening disposed inside the structure. When the page is disposed over the base and the lid is closed, a portion of the disc hub extends into the opening of the page and may engage the media cartridge carried by the page.

The features of these configurations may be used alone or in combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an open media storage container with the add-on page disposed on the lid side of the container.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view the media storage container with the add-on page disposed over the base with a portion of the disc hub exposed through the opening in the page.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with a media cartridge retained by the nest of the page.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The media storage container of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 2 in the accompanying drawings. Container 2 generally includes a container body having at least a base 4 and a lid 6. Lid 6 is movable between open and closed configurations. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a hinge wall 8 is used to connect lid 6 to base 4 with a pair of living hinges. In other configurations, lid 6 may be detachable from base 4 or lid 6 may slide with respect to base 4. Base 4 generally includes a bottom wall 10, a pair of sidewalls 12 projecting up from bottom wall 10, and a front wall 14 projecting up from bottom wall 10. Front wall is generally perpendicular to both sidewalls 12. A hub 16 projects upwardly from bottom wall 10 in a manner that allows hub 16 to project through the center opening of a media disc 18 such as a CD or DVD to position or retain media disc 18 with respect to base 4. Any of a variety of other items of media discs having a hub opening may be used in place of a CD or DVD. Base 4 may also include a nest 20 configured to be disposed adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of media disc 18 when disc 18 is disposed on hub 8. Lid 6 generally includes a top wall 22, a pair of sidewalls 24 projecting from top wall 22, and a front wall 26 projecting from top wall 22. Lid 6 is configured to cooperate with base 4 to enclose media disc 18 when lid is closed with respect to base 6. Base 4, lid 6, and hinge wall 8 may be integrally formed with living hinges connecting hinge wall 8 to base 4 and lid 6. In other embodiments of the invention, the elements of container 2 may be separately formed and connected together. The walls of lid and base may abut each other or overlap as is known in the art. Hub 16 may be a push button hub such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068 or a fixed hub such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,470; these patents are incorporated by reference. The hubs disclosed in these patents are exemplary of a variety of media disc holding hubs that may be used in this storage container. The invention may be configured with a wide variety of media disc hubs known in the art.

Container 2 is also configured to hold a second item of recorded media in a location causing hub 16 to interact with the second item of recorded media. In one configuration, container 2 also includes an add-on page 50 configured to hold a cartridge-type item of recorded media such as the one sold under the Universal Media Disc® trademark (also known as UMD™) or any of a variety of media cartridges having internal media discs. In another configuration, the second item of recorded media may be carried by the lid 6. In the following description, the elements provided on page 50 to hold the second item of recorded media may be provided on the inside of lid 6.

A media cartridge generally includes an outer case 52 with a media disc 54 rotatably disposed inside case 52. Case 52 defines an opening 56 that allows a drive from a player or recorder to engage and drive disc 54.

A plurality of retainers are carried by page 50 to hold case 52 on page 50. The retainers may be disposed about a nest 58 configured to surround case 52. An opening 60 is defined intermediate the retainers and may be defined inside nest 58 by the base wall 62 of page 50. Opening 60 is disposed in a location that aligns opening 60 with hub 16 when page 50 is in a “closed” position. The “closed” position of page 50 is a typical position where page 50 comes to rest when container 2 is closed. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the closed position is depicted in FIG. 3 wherein hinge wall 8 is disposed perpendicular to bottom wall 10. In the closed position of page 50, a portion of hub 16 projects into opening 60.

Page 50 may be connected to base 4, lid 6, or hinge wall 8 with a permanent hinge, a living hinge or the releasable snap-fit hinge configuration shown in the drawings. The exemplary embodiment of the invention has page 50 connected to hinge wall 8 with a snap-fit connection.

Page 50 may hold case 52 in a configuration that positions the surface of case 52 defining opening 56 adjacent page 50 such that a portion of hub 16 may project into opening 56 when page 50 is in the closed position (FIG. 4). Hub 16 may also engage media disc 54. This configuration may stabilize disc 54 when container 2 is closed. This configuration also allows page 50 to fit within a standard-sized 15 mm thick media container by allowing hub 16 to overlap with page 50 and case 52. In the configuration of the invention depicted as an example in this application, the bottom of page 50 is flat and is disposed against the top of nest 20 when page 50 is in the closed position. In other embodiments, the central area of page 50 may be inset to fit within nest 20.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 

1. A media storage container comprising: a container body having open and closed configurations; the container body having a disc retaining hub; a page connected to the body; the page being encased by the container body when the container body is in the closed configuration; the page being adapted to retain a media cartridge; the page being positioned over the disc retaining hub when the container body is closed; the page defining an opening; and a portion of the media disc retaining hub extending into the opening of the page when the page is disposed over the disc retaining hub and the container body is closed.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the disc retaining hub is a push button hub.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the page is releasably snap-fit to the container body.
 4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a media cartridge retained by the page; the cartridge having an outer container with a rotatable media disc disposed in the outer container; the disc retaining hub of the container body engaging the rotatable media disc of the cartridge when the page is disposed over the retaining hub and the container body is in the closed configuration.
 5. The container of claim 4, further comprising a disc disposed on the disc retaining hub.
 6. A media storage container comprising: a container body having open and closed configurations; the container body having a thickness of 15 mm or less; the container body having a disc retaining hub; a page pivotably connected to the container body; the page being disposed within the container body when the container body is in the closed configuration; a media disc being disposed on the disc retaining hub; a media cartridge carried by the page; and a portion of the disc retaining hub overlapping a portion of the page when the container body is in the closed configuration.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the media disc retaining hub is a push button hub.
 8. The container of claim 6, wherein the page is snap-fit to the body of the container.
 9. A media storage container comprising: a base having a disc retaining hub; a hinge wall; a lid; the base being connected to the hinge wall with a first hinge; the lid being connected to the hinge wall with a second hinge; the base, hinge wall, and lid movable with respect to each other between open and closed configurations; a page pivotably connected to one of the base, hinge wall, and lid; the page having a holder adapted to retain a media cartridge; the page defining an opening; the opening being aligned with the disc retaining hub when the base, hinge wall, and lid are in the closed configuration; a portion of the disc retaining hub extending into the opening when of the page the page is disposed over the base.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein a media cartridge is carried by the page; the cartridge having an outer container with a rotatable disc disposed in the outer container; the media disc retaining hub of the base engaging the rotatable disc of the cartridge when the page is disposed over the base of the container.
 11. The container of claim 10, further comprising a media disc disposed on the disc retaining hub.
 12. The container of claim 1 1, wherein the thickness of the container is defined by the height of the hinge wall; the height of the hinge wall being 15 mm or less.
 13. The container of claim 11, wherein the disc retaining hub is a push button hub.
 14. A media storage container comprising: a base having a disc retaining hub; a hinge wall; a lid; the base being connected to the hinge wall with a first living hinge; the lid being connected to the hinge wall with a second living hinge; the base, hinge wall, and lid movable with respect to each other between open and closed configurations; a page pivotably connected to the hinge wall with a releasable snap fit; the page having a holder retaining a media cartridge; the media cartridge having an outer container with a rotatable disc disposed in the outer container; the page defining an opening; the opening being aligned with the disc retaining hub when the base, hinge wall, and lid are in the closed configuration; a portion of the disc retaining hub extending through the opening when of the page the page is disposed over the base; and the media disc retaining hub of the base engaging the rotatable disc of the cartridge when the page is disposed over the base of the container.
 15. The container of claim 14, wherein the disc retaining hub is a push button hub.
 16. The container of claim 15, further comprising a media disc disposed on the disc retaining hub.
 17. The container of claim 14, wherein the thickness of the container is defined by the height of the hinge wall; the height of the hinge wall being 15 mm or less.
 18. The container of claim 14, wherein the base includes a nest at least partially surrounding the disc retaining hub; the page having a flat bottom; the flat bottom of the page engaging a portion of the nest when the base, hinge wall, and lid are in the closed configuration.
 19. The container of claim 1, wherein the body includes a nest at least partially surrounding the disc retaining hub; the page having a flat bottom; the flat bottom of the page engaging a portion of the nest when the container body is in the closed configuration. 